Cork extractor



`une 28, 1966 D. STAMPLER CORK EXTRACTOR Filed Oct. 7. 1964 fl-f5. 5.

United States Patent O York Filed Oct. 7,-1964, Ser. No. 402,241

s Claims. (C1. s13.4s)

This invention relates to a cork extractor and more particularly to a novel cork extractor means having two flexible legs connected to a handle, the handle having a reinforcing rod located within it.

The now most frequently used cork extractor is provided with a handle having a spiral of metal attached thereto. It is first inserted into and then twisted into a cork. The cork is then pulled out, the spiral of metal holding the cork securely as the handle is used to pull the spiral and the cork from the bottle. These spiral cork extractors are disadvantageous because they are diicult to handle for somebody not strong enough to pull the cork from the bottle when the cork is held by the spiral of metal; and once they have performed their function, they remain embedded in the cork. This necessitates an extra step of untwisting and removing the cork extractor from the cork. Quite often this destroys the cork in which the spiral is embedded.

The device of the instant invention overcomes these drawbacks of the spiral of metal cork extractors by providing two flexible legs which are each inserted between the outer edge of the cork and the 'bottle on opposite sides of the cork; the cork is then twisted out of the bottle. This obviates the added steps of screwing the cork extractor into the cork and of unscrewing the cork extractor from the cork once the cork has been removed. Further, the device of the instant invention saves the cork from possible crumbling.

Other cork extractors are known which comprise a cylinder and a handle attached thereto. The cylinder is placed over the top of the cork and forced down between the cork and the bottle. The cork is then removed by pulling upwardly on a handle secured to one end of the cork extracting cylinder. This device has the drawbacks of requiring extra metal for manufacture, extra care and machinery to be used to ensure a cylindrical shape is achieved, and extra manufacturing steps to be used to place adjustment slits in the cylindrical extraction member to ensure it will fit different size corks.

The instant device utilizes an extractor comprising two thin flexible legs which require much less metal for fabrication than a cylinder, much less care and machinery than the making of a cylinder requires and many fewer manufacturing steps.

Other types of cork extractors have been known which have handles attached to their cork extracting members; these handles are loops of wire that may painfully cut into the operators hand while the cork is being extracted. These handlesl themselves are not Very sturdy and are likely to bend.

The instant cork extractor is designed with a handle specifically constituted to prevent discomfort to the operator during 'the extraction process, also, the handle is integrated with the cork extracting elements and reinforced thereby, as well as with additional means, to provide a solid readily usable integrated unit.

The device of th'e instant invention therefore is intended to provide a simple means for cork extraction which is easy to insert around a cork, which requires no unscrewing after the cork has been removed and which Patented June 2s, 1966 is bent in a 90 angle in two places spaced apart ap= proximately the width of a normal bottle cork. It is bent so that the two legs thereby created are parallel to one another. One leg is made longer than the other. The flexible legs are indented over a substantial portion of their length so that the surface to be presented to the cork is essentially concave.

The bent length of flexible material is embedded in a handle so that -the legs are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle of the extractor. The extractor handle is suiliciently long to allow the operator to get a rm grip. Within the handle is also embedded an inflexible rod which serves to reinforce the handle so that it does not break during cork extraction; this rod is positioned by and serves in turn to fix the position of the bent length of metal, the legs of which engage the cork.

The primary object ofthis invention is to provide a cork'extractor which will not harm the cork and which has a handle suciently strong to withstand pressures applied during the extracting process.

The present invention contemplates a structure which utilizes a single narrow length of resilient flexible material tapered at both its ends. The length of flexible material will be easy to separate from the cork after extraction. It is another object of this invention to provide a cork extractor with thin flexible legswhich can be simply reinforced. It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple reinforcing means for the cork extractor handle integrated with the handle and the cork extracting elements to ensure the handle will not break during the operation of the extractor.

These and other objects will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the novel cork extractor of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional-view of the cork extractor showing the placement therein of the bent length of flexible material and the reinforcing rod.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View of the cork extractor of FIGURE l along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing a side view of the bent length of flexible material and the location with respect to the bentlength of flexible material of the reinforcing rod.

FIGURES 4 through 7 are views in perspective showing a cork extractor of the instant invention in use and diagrammatically explain its operation.

FIGURE 8 is a view in perspective showing the manner in which the legs 15, 16 of the cork extractor are contained in a sheath or scabbard.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 3, embedded in the handle 11 of cork extractor 10 is a length of flexible or resiliently deformable material 12, preferably of spring steel. The material 12 is relatively stiff and holds its initial shape but may readily flex longitudinally as shown in FIGURES 4-7 (hereinafter described). The length of flexible material 12 is bent at a 90 angle at points 13 and 14. The two legs 15 and 16 thereby formed are parallel to one another. The length 17 of the length of flexible material 12 between the legs 15 and 16 is approximately the width of a normal bottle cork. Leg 15 `is slightly longer than leg 16 (about one-quarter of one inch) for reasons which will be disclosed later. Legs 15 and 16 have tapered and outwardly bowed ends 23 and 24, re-

spectively. The lower ends of the legs are rounded at v19` Legs 15 and 16 are spaced approximately midway be-` tween the ends of handle 11. Handle 11 is longerl than length of metal `17, the ends 23 arid 24 extending beyond 3 the legs 15, 16 on either side and is elliptical in crosssection to provide a comfortably manual grip. The longer axis of the ellipse is vertical and parallel to legs and 16.

Handle 11 is composed of a moldable material, such as polyethylene plastic, in which metal may be embedded. Length of flexible material 12 is embedded in handle 11 with section 17 of the length of flexible material 12 being parallel to the longitudinal axis of handle 11. Legs 15 and 16 have openings 26 and 27, respectively, in each of them at points substantially along the center of the long axis of the elliptical cross-section of handle 11. A reinforcing rod 28 is carried by openings 26 and 27 and is positioned by these openings during the process of molding the handle, so that the rod 28 may be integrated with the handle 11 and cork extractor legs 15 and 16.

By this means, there is provided a cork extractor in which the handle is fully integrated with the cork extrae*- ing elements. Since the operation, hereinafter described, requires a plurality of the rocking motions and imposes bending forces on the handle, the elliptical cross-section of the handle provides added material in the plane of the bending forces to reinforce `the handle. Also, the reinforcing rod 28 provides additional resistance to the bending forces and may be made strong enough to resist any expected bending or breaking force. Also, the integration of the handle 11, the reinforcing rod 28 and the horizontal length 17 and legs 15 and 16 of member 12 provide a reinforced composite structure which will perform the cork-extracting operation without breaking or deforming the unit.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 through 7, the operator holding handle 11 in his hand, places leg 15 in the gap between cork 31 and bottle 32 and presses down in direction A on cork extractor 10, thereby inserting leg 15 between cork 31 and bottle 32'. When leg 16 contacts cork 31, it is also inserted between cork 31 and bottle 32. Handle 11 is then moved in direction B (FIGURE 5), which is generally tangential to the direction of its longitudinal axis and toward leg 15. At the same time, continual pressure in downward direction A is exerted. Once handle 11 is moved a short distance in direction B, movement of handle 11 is reversed to the opposite direction C (FIGURE 6), while maintaining downward pressure in direction A. This ensures that leg 16 is inserted between cork 31 and bottle 32. Alternately rocking handle 11 in direction B and direction C, while continuing to exert downward pressure in direction A, ultimately brings both legs 15 and 16 to the position where ends 19 and 20 thereof are below the lower surface 34 of cork 31. Handle 11 is then brought to a horizontal position, so that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the plane of the upper lip 33 of bottle 32.y Handle 11 is then rotated in either a clockwise direction D or a counterclockwise direction E or in an alternate combination of both movements while a pull in an upward direction F (FIGURE 7) is exerted on handle 11.

The outward curve at 23, 24 of legs 15, 16 ensures that as the cork is drawn up, the legs 15, 16 and especially the edges thereof at the concave areas formed by indentations 21, 22 will be forced into the surface of the cork and grip it tightly. The combined turning and vertical lifting motion of handle 11 will pull the cork 31 from bottle 32. Once cork 31 has been removed from bottle 32, it is readily removed from cork extractor 10.

In FIGURE S, I have shown how my novel cork ex` tractor may be transported and stored. A scabbard or sheath 40 is provided having longitudinal openings 41, 42 in which the legs 15, 16 may be inserted and fully housed for storage and transportation of my novel cork extractor.

In the foregoing, I have described and shown a preferred illustrative embodiment of my invention. Since many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be limited not by the specific disclosures herein contained but only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or properties claimed are defined as follows:

1. A cork extractor comprising a handle with two substantially parallel resiliently exible legs connected thereto; each of said legs being indented and concave over a substantial portion of its length to produce a pair of forward edges; one of said liexible legs being longer than the other of said legs; each of said legs being tapered at its end; the said legs fiaring outwardly from each other at their ends to urge said forward edges into firm frictional engagement with a cork when said cork extractor is utilized to extract a cork from a bottle.

2. A cork extractor comprising a handle with two substantially parallel resiliently flexible legs connected thereto; each of said legs being indented and concave over a substantial portion of its length to produce a pair of forward edges; one of said flexible legs being longer than the other of said legs; each of said legs being tapered at its end; the said legs flaring outwardly from each other at their ends; said legs being formed of a continuous ribbon, said ribbon being bent to form a center section and the two legs substantially normal to the center section; the said center section 'being embedded in the handle.

3. A cork extractor comprising a handle with two substantially parallel resiliently flexible legs connected thereto; each of said legs being indented and concave over a substantial portion of its length to produce a pair of forward edges; one of said flexible legs being longer than the other of said legs; each of said legs being tapered at its end; the said legs flaring outwardly from each other at their ends to urge said forward edges into firm frictional engagement with a cork when said cork extractor is utilized to extract a cork from a bottle; said legs being formed of a continuous ribbon, said ribbon being bent to form a center section and the two legs substantially normal to the center section; the said center section being embedded in the handle; and an additional longitudinal reinforcing rod embedded in said handle.

4. A cork extractor comprising a handle with two substantially parallel resiliently flexible legs connected thereto; each of said legs being indented and concave over a substantial portion of its length to produce a pair of forward edges; one of said flexible legs being longer than the other of said legs; each of said legs being tapered at its end; the said legs flaring outwardly from each other at their ends to urge said forward edges into firm frictional engagement with a cork when said cork extractor is utilized to extract a cork from a bottle; said legs being formed of a continuous ribbon, said ribbon being bent to form a center section and the two legs substantially normal to the center section; the said center section being embedded in the handle; and an additional longitudinal reinforcing rod embedded in said handle; said legs having aligned openings therein at the portion of each thereof adjacent the center section; said reinforcing rod extending through said openings.

5. A cork extractor comprising aV handle with two substantially parallel resiliently flexible legs connected thereto; each of said legs being indented and concave over a substantial portion of its length to produce a pair of forward edges; one of said flexible legs being longer than the other of said legs; each of said legs being tapered at its end; the said legs flaring outwardly from each other at their ends to urge said forward edges into firm frictional engagement with a cork when said cork extractor is utilized to extract a cork from a bottle; said legs being formed of a continuous ribbon, said ribbon being bent to form a center section and the two legs substantially normal to the center section; the said center section being embedded in the handle; and an additional longitudinal reinforcing rod embedded in said handle; said legs have aligned openings therein at the portion of each thereof adjacent the center section; said reinforcing rod extending through said openings; said handle having a longitudinal axis parallel to the center section;said rod extending along said longitudinal axis; said handle having an elliptical cross-section with the long axis of the ellipse parallel to the legs; said combination of elliptical cross-section of the handle, reinforcing rod, the said center section of the said ribbon and the portion of the legs adjacent the center sect-ion and embedded in the handle forming rigid structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 772,888 10/1'904 Keiser 81-3.49 X 2,486,286 10/1949 Irvin 81--3.49

FOREIGN PATENTS 811,665 8/1951 Germany.

426,105 10/1947 Italy.

1,486 4/1888 Sweden.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Pz'niary Examiner.

JAMES L. I ONES, JR., Examiner. 

1. A CORK EXTRACTOR COMPRISING A HANDLE WITH TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE LEGS CONNECTED THERETO; EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING INDENTED AND CONCAVE OVER A SUBSTASNTIAL PORTION OF ITS LENGTH TO PRODUCE A PAIR OF FORWARD EDGES; ONE OF SAID FLEXIBLE LEGS BEING LONGER THAN THE OTHER OF SAID LEGS; EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING TAPERED AT ITS END; THE SAID LEGS FLARING OUTWARDLY FROM EACH OTHER AT THEIR ENDS TO URGE SAID FORWARD EDGES INTO FIRM FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH A CORK WHEN SAID CORK EXTRACTOR IS UTILIZED TO EXTRACT A CORK FROM A BOTTLE. 